Weakening of the pelvic region muscles as a result of multiple ‘vaginal’ deliveries has been identified as a major cause of urinary incontinence. Urinary incontinence is a term that describes any accidental or involuntary loss of urine from the bladder.
According to Dr. Oladipo Falayi, an obstetrics and gynaecologist, “it is the inability of the individual to have reflex control over urinary output of the nervous system.” Incontinence is a widespread condition that ranges in severity from just a small leak to the complete loss of bladder or bowel control. It could be either as a result of bacteria or viral infections like HIV, staphylococcus, gonorrhoea or it can be a result of tumour around the tissue.
It could also be that the sphincter that controls the urinary glands has lost control, experts say. “Urinary incontinence can also arise from a neurogenic defect, which can be as a result of ageing or menopause. For women who have had many vaginal deliveries, there is usually a loss of strength of the muscles in the pelvic region.
In pregnant women, the pressure of the weight of the baby on the bladder can also cause incontinence,” Falayi noted. Research has shown that incontinence could also be as a result of trauma from an accident or injury from a caesarean section.
Prostate cancer in men, strenuous exercise and frequent lifting of heavy loads can also cause a weakening of the detrusor muscle in the bladder, leading to involuntary release of urine from the urethra.
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